Information about: Carrot

Carrot. A biennial umbelliferous plant. The leaves are tripinnate, of a handsome feathery appearance. The plants rise to the height of two feet, and produce white flowers. The root, in its wild state, is small, tapering, of a white color, and strong-flavored; but that of the cultivated variety is large, succulent, and of a red, yellow, or pale straw color, and shows remarkably the improvement which may be effected by cultivation. It is cultivated for the table and as a food for cattle. Carrots contain a large proportion of saccharine matter, and attempts have been made to extract sugar from them. They have also been employed in distillation.